Although the idea of fixing sporting events was practiced long before 1919 Chicago Black Sox Scandal, this instance was the first major one that had struck the American people and the sport that they so greatly adored. Fortunately, the people didn’t lose interest in the game as popularity skyrocketed as the 1920’s progressed. As for the players involved in the scandal, this is how they ended up.
Chick Gandil tried to play with a series of semi-pro baseball teams in the south, but ended up settling down in Berkeley, California with his wife and kid, where he became a full-time plumber. He died in 1970 at the age of 82. As for Eddie Cicotte, he returned to his hometown of Livonia, Michigan were he managed his own service station. He then worked as a Game Warden, and then as an employee of Henry Ford. He died in 1969 at the age of 84. Happy Felsch tried to continue on with baseball, as he toured around North America playing for semi-pro clubs in the United State and Canada. After his playing days, he opened up a grocery store and a few bars. He died in 1964, just five days before his 73rd birthday. Shoeless Joe Jackson continued on with baseball after he was banned, playing and managing with a few semi-pro teams down in the south. He was able to open up a dry cleaning business, as well as a restaurant and a few liquor stores. He died of a heart attack in 1951 at the age of 64. He was the first of the Black Sox to pass away. Fred McMullin died in 1952 at the age of 61. Much like his former teammates, Swede Risberg continued to play baseball for a few semi-pro clubs around North America, a newspaper out of North Dakota claimed that he had played on a team with former White Sox teammates Buck Weaver, Lefty Williams and Happy Felsch. He worked on a dairy farm and opened up a tavern and a lumber business after his playing days. Swede Risberg died in 1975 on his 81st birthday. He was the last of the Black Sox to pass away. Buck Weaver was the only member of the banned Black Sox to ever apply for reinstatement into organized baseball, he tried six times to clear his name and every time his request was denied. He attempted to play for a few minor league ball clubs before he died in 1956 at the age of 65. Lefty Williams played for a few outlaw teams after he was banned, he took up heavy drinking and he was even known to drink between innings of games. He died in 1983 at the age of 66.